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Swider CR, Gemelli CF, Wrege PH, Parks SE. Passive acoustic monitoring reveals behavioural response of African forest elephants to gunfire events. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Colin R. Swider
- Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab, Biology Department Syracuse University Syracuse New York USA
| | - Christopher F. Gemelli
- Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab, Biology Department Syracuse University Syracuse New York USA
| | - Peter H. Wrege
- Elephant Listening Project, K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
| | - Susan E. Parks
- Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab, Biology Department Syracuse University Syracuse New York USA
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Saloma A, Ratsimbazafindranahaka MN, Martin M, Andrianarimisa A, Huetz C, Adam O, Charrier I. Social calls in humpback whale mother-calf groups off Sainte Marie breeding ground (Madagascar, Indian Ocean). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13785. [PMID: 35990903 PMCID: PMC9390327 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use vocalizations during diverse social interactions or activities such as foraging or mating. Unlike songs produced only by males, social calls are produced by all types of individuals (adult males and females, juveniles and calves). Several studies have described social calls in the humpback whale's breeding and the feeding grounds and from different geographic areas. We aimed to investigate for the first time the vocal repertoire of humpback whale mother-calf groups during the breeding season off Sainte Marie island, Madagascar, South Western Indian Ocean using data collected in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. We recorded social calls using Acousonde tags deployed on the mother or the calf in mother-calf groups. A total of 21 deployments were analyzed. We visually and aurally identified 30 social call types and classified them into five categories: low, medium, high-frequency sounds, amplitude-modulated sounds, and pulsed sounds. The aural-visual classifications have been validated using random forest (RF) analyses. Low-frequency sounds constituted 46% of all social calls, mid-frequency 35%, and high frequency 10%. Amplitude-modulated sounds constituted 8% of all vocalizations, and pulsed sounds constituted 1%. While some social call types seemed specific to our study area, others presented similarities with social calls described in other geographic areas, on breeding and foraging grounds, and during migrating routes. Among the call types described in this study, nine call types were also found in humpback whale songs recorded in the same region. The 30 call types highlight the diversity of the social calls recorded in mother-calf groups and thus the importance of acoustic interactions in the relationships between the mother and her calf and between the mother-calf pair and escorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjara Saloma
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar,Association Cétamada, Barachois Sainte Marie, Madagascar
| | - Maevatiana N. Ratsimbazafindranahaka
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar,Association Cétamada, Barachois Sainte Marie, Madagascar
| | - Mathilde Martin
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
| | - Aristide Andrianarimisa
- Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Chloé Huetz
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
| | - Olivier Adam
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Institut Jean Le Rond d’Alembert, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
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King SL, Jensen FH. Rise of the machines: Integrating technology with playback experiments to study cetacean social cognition in the wild. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. King
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol BS8 1TQ Bristol United Kingdom
| | - Frants H. Jensen
- Biology department, Syracuse University 107 College Place 13244 Syracuse NY USA
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Zeh JM, Dombroski JRG, Parks SE. Preferred shallow-water nursery sites provide acoustic crypsis to southern right whale mother-calf pairs. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220241. [PMID: 35620006 PMCID: PMC9115009 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Adaptations to sound production behaviour can reduce the detectability of animal signals by eavesdroppers in a phenomenon known as acoustic crypsis. We propose that acoustic crypsis can include selection of locations that affect how sound transmits through the environment: habitats with poor acoustic propagation can minimize the range of detectability of animal signals. We investigated the potential for the preferred habitats of southern right whales to confer acoustic crypsis. We modelled acoustic propagation and range of detection of calls from southern right whales in the shallow, sandy, near shore waters where mothers and calves aggregate during the calving season. At three nursery sites across three continents in the southern hemisphere, results showed that the depth at which right whales are most commonly sighted has the most limited acoustic detection range for their calls. Thus, these habitats allow mother-calf pairs to remain acoustically cryptic from potential eavesdroppers, both predators and conspecifics, when their calves are the most vulnerable. Our results provide preliminary evidence that, in addition to other behavioural strategies, the use of habitats with poor acoustic propagation can contribute to acoustic crypsis. This adaptation may be a widespread and underappreciated mechanism for avoidance of eavesdroppers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Zeh
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | - Susan E. Parks
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Indeck KL, Noad MJ, Dunlop RA. Humpback whale adult females and calves balance acoustic contact with vocal crypsis during periods of increased separation. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8604. [PMID: 35154661 PMCID: PMC8826064 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Acoustic communication is important for animals with dependent young, particularly when they are spatially separated. Maternal humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use acoustic calling to help minimize the risk of separation from their young calves during migration. These pairs also use acoustic crypsis to minimize detection by males. How they balance a restricted active space with the need to maintain acoustic contact during periods of separation is not yet understood. Here, we analyzed movement metrics of tagged adult female-calf pairs during migration to identify two behavioral states, "resting/milling" and "travelling." When travelling, these pairs dived synchronously and exhibited little to no spatial separation. Alternatively, adult females had significantly longer dive durations (p < .01) when resting, and while they spent prolonged times at depth, calves would surface several times independently. This demonstrated that these pairs are frequently separated during periods of rest. We then determined whether the call rates and acoustic levels of these pairs increased with more frequent separation, finding that both adult females and calves significantly increased their call rates, but not levels, when resting. We also found that adult female-calf pairs have a restricted active space, with less than 15% of calls estimated to be detectable beyond 2 km. However, as with call level, detection distance did not differ significantly between the two behavioral states. In summary, adult female-calf pairs maintain successful communication during periods of separation by calling more frequently rather than by producing louder calls. This strategy aids in maintaining acoustic contact while simultaneously limiting detectability by conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L. Indeck
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics LaboratoriesSchool of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of QueenslandGattonQueenslandAustralia
- Present address:
University of New BrunswickSaint JohnNew BrunswickCanada
| | - Michael J. Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics LaboratoriesSchool of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of QueenslandGattonQueenslandAustralia
| | - Rebecca A. Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics LaboratoriesSchool of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of QueenslandGattonQueenslandAustralia
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Matthews LP, Parks SE. An overview of North Atlantic right whale acoustic behavior, hearing capabilities, and responses to sound. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113043. [PMID: 34715435 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Creating a baseline understanding of communicative signals and perceptual abilities is imperative for gaining insight into a species' life history. This is especially relevant for at-risk species, as it can aid in monitoring and conservation efforts. Marine mammals communicate predominately through acoustic modalities for a variety of functions, including foraging and reproduction. The acoustic signals produced by marine mammals, and their ability to perceive signals produced by conspecifics, are directly impacted by the level of ambient noise in the underwater environment in which they inhabit. Modern ocean noise levels are considerably louder than historical levels, and noise is therefore considered to be a threat to acoustically communicating marine mammal species. This review summarizes the documented acoustic signals, hearing abilities, and responses to sound of a critically endangered baleen whale, the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), highlights gaps in the current body of literature, and identifies priorities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanna P Matthews
- Sound Science Research Collective, Juneau, AK 99801, United States of America.
| | - Susan E Parks
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States of America
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Videsen SKA, Simon M, Johnson M, Madsen PT, Christiansen F. Cryptic vocal behavior of foraging humpback whales on feeding grounds in West Greenland. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 150:2879. [PMID: 34717496 DOI: 10.1121/10.0006735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) sing in mating aggregations in the form of song displays, but much less is known about how both sexes use sound on their feeding grounds. Here, we test different hypotheses about the function of vocalizations in 14 foraging humpback whales tagged with sound and movement recording Dtags in Greenland. We show that this population of foraging humpback whales have an overall low call rate of 11.9 calls h-1 (inter-quartile range = 12.1) with no support for the hypotheses that they employ sound in the localization or manipulation of prey nor in the coordination of lunge feeding. The calls had a mean received level of 135 ± 5dB re 1 μPa, which is some 30 dB lower than maximum levels of song recorded on similar deployed tags, suggesting a much smaller active space of these vocalizations. This reduced active space might, in concert with low call rates, serve to mitigate eavesdropping by predatory killer whales or conspecifics competing for the same prey resources. We conclude that feeding humpback whales in Greenland produce low level, infrequent calls suggesting that calling is not a prerequisite for successful feeding, but likely serves to mediate within group social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone K A Videsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, Kivioq 2, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Mark Johnson
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Abstract
During migration, humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) adult females and their calves use acoustic calling to help maintain contact. The signals produced by these pairs, however, may unintentionally attract nearby breeding males, which can result in interactions that have negative physical and physiological effects on the calf. Therefore, maternal females must choose the vocal and/or behavioral strategy that most effectively balances intra-pair communication with male avoidance. Here, we analyzed differences in adult female-calf vocal activity and movement behavior according to the presence of, and distance to, singing whales and other groups likely to contain males. The results of this study found that these pairs make only minimal changes to their vocal behavior in response to nearby males, suggesting that they have instead evolved calls that are naturally difficult to detect (i.e., produced at significantly lower rates and acoustic levels than other whale groups, resulting in a restricted active space). In addition, they maintain spatial separation from nearby groups by moving to shallower, inshore waters, increasing their proportion of time spent near the surface, and favoring a direct migratory course. This combination of cryptic strategies balances avoidance of unwanted conspecific interaction with the necessity of continued contact between maternal female humpback whales and their calves.
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R G Dombroski J, Parks SE, A C Flores P, Martín López LM, Shorter KA, Groch KR. Animal-borne tags provide insights into the acoustic communication of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) on the calving grounds. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:EL498. [PMID: 32611191 DOI: 10.1121/10.0001391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the repertoire, call-type variability and call rates of southern right whales on a calving ground off Brazil in the western South Atlantic. Acoustic tag data were collected from four lactating females and one juvenile. Pulsive, hybrid, and upcalls showed the greatest variability among call-types with up to 23% of non-standard forms detected. Quiet sounds (grunt, single, and double pulse) were detected for the first time in this species on the calving grounds. Although the sample size was limited, results suggest that social interaction increased call-type diversity and call rates, in line with other acoustic studies on right whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R G Dombroski
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 114 Life Sciences Complex, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
| | - Susan E Parks
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 114 Life Sciences Complex, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
| | | | | | - K Alex Shorter
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Harbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Karina R Groch
- Instituto Australis, CP 201 Imbituba, SC- 88780-000, , , , , ,
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